Death metal band to shatter more than just eardrums at V&A museum

It is known for its antique furniture collections and old bone china teapots,
but the V&A museum is to host a more unusual cultural experience when they
invite a “death metal” band for a one-off performance.

Napalm Death, whose songs include Scum, You Suffer and From Enslavement to Obliteration, will play a 30-minute set for visitors, as part of the museum’s series called Disruptions.

It is likely the group will shatter more than just eardrums, however, as the band will be playing through a public address system specially made using clay to test the power of the sound they can produce.

Keith Harrison, resident ceramicist at the V&A, has built a wooden sound system with 10 speakers he has filled with liquid clay and allowed it to solidify.

As the four-man band starts to play, the sound produced will reverberate inside the clay, causing it to slowly crack and changing the music as it does. He chose the band as the very low bass notes in their songs will help create the right frequency to help break down the tiles.

However, in an attempt to protect the museum’s collection of priceless ceramics from being similarly damaged, the band will be performing in the basement, far away from the artefacts.

Death metal is an extreme version of heavy metal music and features distorted guitar sounds, high tempo drumming, deep, growling vocals, as well as high pitched screaming.

Mr Harrison said the idea behind the performance was to turn the V&A’s conventional lunchtime recital on its head and give visitors a different experience of the museum.

He said: “Napalm was my band of choice, they really understood the project. We needed a group with a lot of attitude to show the power of sound and the energy it has to destroy.

“It’s interesting to see how electrical power can change material, like clay. It can warm it up, break it down or completely change its state, which means the gig will be both visually and aurally entertaining.

“It will be a lot of fun doing it in a space like the V&A, known for its famous collection of historic ceramic art. It’s a great juxtaposition.”

The band, which formed in the Midlands in the 1980s, are more used to gigs at large venues with much bigger audiences than the 200 people expected at the V&A, but were excited by the opportunity to experiment with their music.

Mark Greenway, vocalist for Napalm Death, said: “Sound as a weapon - or a weapon of change - is a very interesting concept and I think that the whole process of our sound gradually degrading clay sculptures is captivating.

“The noise element of music should never be understated and this exhibition at the V&A will hopefully demonstrate that music can do interesting things beyond the realms of clipped production techniques.”